Going to Yakima on Sunday to visit someone. Question where to fish? I'm used to fishing the Samish so crowds aren't a problem for me. I'm just lookin to do some catch and release. Any info would be helpful. thanks. Fish on to all!!!!

For trout , fish the canyon between E-burg and Selah. The riffles seem to be producing pretty well during the hatches.

Rumor has it some salmon are being hooked near the Tri-cities near Horn Rapids.

If you really want to learn to fish the yakima (with fly's), give the evening hatch a call. I've done a trip with them the last two years and had a blast. Lots of rainbows hitting dry's right off the bank. I had on and lost a good 20"er on and did a hook set too hard and broke him off.

I have been doing some research for upcoming trips as well. Take a look at
http://www.troutsource.com/RiversFolder/Yakima.htm.

They have other links as well, looks like some good info is shared at this site.

Hey DA ORIGINAL FISHMASTER...

I fished the Yak on the the weekend of 10/5/02...

If you are walk-in fishing I would suggest parking at the Umtanum foot bridge (parking/camping) area and walking down the westside of the river... this works out pretty good because you can walk the trail tracks...

If you are fishing drys then I would suggest October Caddis (burnt orange body deer hair caddis) size 14

If you want to fish a drop nymph... I would use a black stimulator on the surface as a stike indicator (we got fish on the surface with it as well) and a olive bead head (or weighted) hairs ear or pheasant tail --- the olive flys seemed to produce better...

I would look for slow water next to faster ripples...

Good luck and tight lines...!

Also, I would suggest you fish it earlier in the day because the winds start blowing in pretty had later in the day...

wabowhunter..

Did you see a lot of people on the yak?
If you did were they floating or walking?
Thanks for the info.

Well fishgut...

Yes we saw a lot of people... both floating and walking...

We were floating in pontoon boats put in at Umtanum and pulled out at Roza...

I would say that we saw about 6 drifter guides and 12 other pontoon guys...

At just about all the road pull outs and walking down the tracks there were guys walk fishing...

I found a couple of nice "behind and island" riffs without guys and got out of the pontoon and hit several nice "big" trout...

At least people were being civil... and it beat an office!!!

Tight Lines

Guys,
I guide on the Yakima 2 or 3 days a week and it is fishing well right now. The Evening Hatch is a great shop to find out what bugs worked yesterday. they run about 6-10 boats down the river every day, and really stay in tune with what/where the river is fishing.
Lots of Octobers, and some fall baetis showing up.
Even if the river is crowded, it doesnt really matter. We have been seeing 20-40 fish days almost all month. Remember with the lower water the trout are concentrated in the oxygenated stuff in the afternoons.
The canyon is probably the best bet, but dont overlook the stretch between Cle Elum and Thorp. Lots of spawning kings, and you know what lays behind those redds.....

Rooster,

Thanks for your info.. I have never fished the River but it is my understanding that the quality of fisherman is a little higher as in practicing proper river etiquette. which tells me more people isn't as harmfull as in other areas. It is nice to have a place to yourself but surrounding myself with quality people isn't that bad either.
I may be interested in a guided trip to learn the river. Can you send me a link or other info?

Fishgut -
Check your email. River is fishing very well last couple days.

If you go take eggs and a bobber and go to prosser. I fished there a couple of weeks ago and had success. I drift a small berry of eggs with a 2/0 hook and pulled out one bright chinook and lost a couple more. My father in law also did very well. I am not sure what the currentl regs are for fishing for salmon now but if it is still open for prosser and below to the columbia you should look into it. If you want trout and only catch and release go to the yakima ellensburg canyon and fly fish for the trout and steelies. And one other thing have fun they are in there.